University Challenge 2017-18: Repechage Play-Off 1: Ulster vs St Anne's

Evening all. So, the nights are drawing in, the weather's getting colder, as evidenced by the fact I've put my heating on advance twice today, which means we must be starting to see UC teams for second times. The first of the two play-offs tonight, between a team we first saw way back in the middle of summer, and one we first met only two weeks ago. Winners would take the penultimate place in the second round.

Ulster were defeated by Edinburgh in the first match of the series back in July by the narrowest margin possible, five points, having led much of the way through, by 165-160, which turned out to be the highest losing score of the first round. They were unchanged from that occasion:
Cathal McDaid, from Buncrana in County Donegal, studying English Literature
Kate Ritchie, from Waringstown in County Armagh, studying Fine Art
Captain: Ian Jack, from Peterhead, studying Pharmacy
Matthew Milliken, from Comber in County Down, studying Education

St Anne's College Oxford suffered a more comprehensive defeat at the hands of Corpus Christi College Cambridge in their first match, despite periods of promise, ultimately losing 225-135. Paxo's final words to them suggested to me they may not be back, but they've made it, and were also unchanged from before:
Ramani Chandramohan, from Canterbury, studying Classics and French 
Cameron Royle, from Fleet in Hampshire, studying Chemistry 
Captain: Kanta Dihal, from Eindhoven in the Netherlands, studying Literature 
Andrew Jamieson, from Northampton, studying Earth Sciences

Off we set again then, and Ms Ritchie opened the night's scoring for Ulster; the first bonuses of the night, on Japanese inventions, saw them, and me, take just the one, emojis. Mr Jack, the side's best buzzer in the opening match, took his first starter of the night, but bonuses on astronomy added nothing to their score. Ms Dihal got St Anne's off the mark, but they too got nothing from their first bonus set on Scottish artists. A penalty then halved their score, and handed Ulster the points; Polish composers gave the Northern Ireland team a full bonus set. The first picture round, on floorplans of London buildings, went to Ulster, who took just the one bonus, increasing their lead to 65-5.

A second penalty then reset the Oxford side's score to 0; Mr Jack took the points, and the resultant bonuses on feminist literature gave them one correct answer, and a good comedy moment as Ms Ritchie briefly protested at being nominated! Mr Milliken then made sure all four Ulster players had a starter to their name, and two bonuses followed from the resulting set took them into triple figures. Mr Jack quickly worked out a piece of planetary arithmetic for the next starter, but nothing came from the bonuses this time. A second quick buzz from Mr Jack in a row pressed home his side's advantage, though the bonuses provided just the one correct answer again.

The music round, on music famously used at the start of films, allowed St Anne's back into the match; one bonus reduced their arrears to 125-15. Back came Ulster, with Mr Jack identifying the Suez canal; again, though, the bonuses provided them with no correct answers, though they did offer a good amusing guess for one! Mr Royle took St Anne's back into the match, and one bonus followed. Ms Dihal took a second starter in a row for the Oxford side, and a bonus set on regions of the Netherlands fell nicely into her lap, needing no assistance to take a full set! Mr Jack reasserted Ulster's authority with the next starter, but just the one bonus followed again. The Northern Ireland side seemed to be dominating the buzzer race, but their modest bonus rate meant St Anne's could be in with a shout could they get a buzzer and bonus run together.

The second picture starter was dropped; the bonuses, on recipients of the Bodley medal, went to St Anne's, who took two bonuses, which meant they now trailed 150-75. Mr Jack identified the flea for the next starter; though just the one bonus followed again, with not much time left, you fancied they'd done enough, and it would be too late for St Anne's to catch up now.

They tried, Miss Chandramohan taking a punt on the next starter, but all it earned her was a "Good Heavens, no!" from Paxo! Mr Jamieson fared somewhat better, taking the next starter, but nothing came from their resultant bonuses on Hong Kong theatre. Mr Royle took a second starter in a row for the Oxonians, but, again, nothing came from the bonuses. A penalty then allowed Mr Milliken to take the final starter of the night for Ulster, just in time for the gong; Ulster won, 175-90.

A rather low scoring match, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Unlucky St Anne's, who were comprehensively beaten on the buzzer, but came across well then they got in and have nothing to be ashamed of, thanks for playing. Well done Ulster though, a strong performance on the buzzer making up for a rather modest showing on the bonuses, best of luck in the second round!

The stats: Mr Jack was by far the best buzzer of the night, with seven starters, same as St Anne's managed between them, Mr Royle was their best buzzer with three. On the bonuses, Ulster converted just 11 out of 33, while St Anne's managed just 7 out of 21 (with three penalties); both rather low rates there, so it was on the buzzer that this match was won.

Next week's match: St Hugh's vs U.C.L. in the second play-off

Only Connect review coming up tomorrow, as the new format continues to confuse, though I think some are beginning to get the hang of it now.